In 1988, a horror film entitled ‘Child’s Play’ was released in the United States. It was the first in a series of films devoted to the Chucky doll. Two years later, a band from Baltimore, Maryland, emerged from the darkness of the industrial city: CHILD’S PLAY.
Formed in the first half of the ’80s with a different band name, the group recorded a demo before signing with Chrysalis Records in 1989, for their major label debut album 1990’s ‘Rat Race’ (released in 1990 via Chrysalis Records) produced by Howard Benson (Bang Tango). The title track got a fair amount of airplay on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball. They were a hot hard rocking act, bluesy, funky.
By the end of that year, the band changed the lead vocalist and recorded ‘Long Way’, released 1991. This time the sound was less rawer than debut, in favor to a more melodic approach.
Now Bad Reputation Records is releasing a 2-CD digisleeve including both albums – “Rat Race + Long Way” – remastered.
Early 1984 guitarist Brian Jack and Larry Hinshaw (original singer) met while working at a local restaurant and decided to form a band, later adding Phil Wiser on bass and Steve Albinak on drums. The band would later choose the name Child’s Play.
At the same time a few miles away John Allen, Nicky Kay and Idzi were playing in a band called Antix (not to be confused with the Don Dokken-produced group of the same name). They soon changed their stage name to East Side Kids and though younger than the guys in Child’s Play would soon see their careers intersect with the rival band.
Child’s Play plucked bandmate Jimmy Shafer from East Side Kids just before playing their debut shows and soon after added John Allen on drums. The band began playing four nights a week while John and Jimmy were attending High School in early 1984. Not long after Jimmy left Child’s Play and the band grabbed Nicky Kay as a replacement.
The combo toured the local venues, gaining in recognition.
In 1986, the band put out a 5-track E.P. titled ‘Ruff House’ on indie label Rampant Records, selling over 5,000 copies within three months of its release. Some tracks are played on FM stations in states surrounding Maryland, such as Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Maryland Musical selects John Allen as Best Drummer four years in a row, and the band follows in the footsteps of its glorious predecessors KIX and Wrathchild America, originally from the region and signed to major labels.
In 1987, Idzi joined the band. Now made up of Brian Jack (vocals, guitars), Nicky Kay (guitars), Idzi (bass) and John Allen (drums), CHILD’S PLAY was ready for the big adventure. In 1987 after the departure of original lead singer Larry Hinshaw, John and Nicky decided to make a concerted effort to get the band a record deal.
They went New York to knock on the doors of record companies. Shortly after they were approached by a local manager who asked them to give him a year and he would get them signed. Within a month he booked the band into the infamous Cat Club in New York. The band’s set was after 2:30 am on a Wednesday!
But as luck would have it – an A&R man from MCA records just happened to see the set and started to work with the band. Unfortunately, the next Autumn the entire staff that the band was negotiating with were terminated.
Enter Chrysalis Records. With new vocalist Brian Jack the band signed in late 1989 and entered the studio in January of 1990. The album ‘Rat Race’ was released June 26th 1990. It was produced by Howard Benson, at the time a young producer known for his work with Pretty Boy Floyd and Bang Tango.
The album brings together influences such as classic American Hard Rock, Melodic Metal and Blues. These disparate influences are well blended and digested, resulting in a unique and potent sound that’s hard to categorize when listening to this really strong album.
While part of the second half of the ’80s American Hard Rock / Glam wagon, Child’s Play style was quite different. If you have any pre-conceived notions about this being “glam metal” or a “hair band”, just push play on this sucker. Yeah, it was released toward the twilight of the whole Californian era, but these guys rock with bite from track 1 all the way through.
With new vocalist Tommy McRae the band begun writing new songs for the next album, ‘Long Way’. Child’s Play were looking a for a melodic, commercial sound hence the songs are much more melodic rock oriented.
If you are a fan of the late 80s and early 90s American hard rock sound, ‘Rat Race’ is a very good album to re-discover. For a more melodic rock feel ‘Long Way’ provides balance.
A really welcomed reissue / remaster by Bad Reputation.
Highly Recommended
Rat Race
1-1 Good Ol' Rock And Roll
1-2 Day After Night
1-3 My Bottle
1-4 Rat Race
1-5 Wind
1-6 Evicted
Lead Vocals – John Allen (4)
1-7 Knock Me Out
1-8 Girl Like You
1-9 Capricorn/Bang Bang
1-10 Pay Your Dues
Lead Vocals – John Allen (4)
1-11 Damned If I Do
1-12 When Hell Freezes Over
Long Way
2-1 I Can't Believe
2-2 Long Way
2-3 Foolish Pride
2-4 Kind Of Life
2-5 Never Make It On Time
2-6 Keep On Tellin Me
2-7 Woman
2-8 Wind (Live)
Child’s Play – Rat Race + Long Way 2024 Remaster Bad Reputation, MP3+WAV
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